Once again, the University of Minnesota men’s golf team is in good position entering the final round of a tournament. The Golden Gophers are in first place as a team and freshman Jose Mendez holds the individual lead after two rounds of the Rutherford Intercollegiate in State College, Pa.

Minnesota posted team scores of 286 and 278 to finish with a 4-under total of 564. The Gophers have a nine-stroke lead over second-place Rutgers. Their 278 was the lowest by anyone in the 14-team field in either round Saturday, and the second-lowest by Minnesota this season.

Mendez’s career-low, 6-under 65 in the second round was the lowest score of the first day of the tournament. He birdied five holes, eagled the par-5 12th and bogeyed only one hole. In his first round, he had four birdies and one bogey. Mendez is two strokes ahead of the Scarlet Knights’ Jonathan Renza.

Senior Alex Gaugert is tied for third place with a 2-under total of 142. He played steady golf with an even-par first round and 2-under second round. Gaugert tallied six birdies to four bogeys Saturday.

Sophomore Jon DuToit is also in the top 20 for the Gophers. He carded a 75 and a 71 on the first day of competition.